Enbridge to make major investment

BISMARCK (AP) — Enbridge Energy Partners LP will make an additional $145 million investment in North Dakota to expand crude oil capacity and add a rail car loading facility to accommodate the additional volume, the company said Tuesday.

The Houston-based petroleum company, which operates oil pipelines, said that it will increase the holding capacity at the Berthold terminal by 80,000 barrels per day and add a double-loop unit-train facility, oil tanks and other terminal facilities next to its existing facilities.

Enbridge Energy Partners has contractual commitments for 70 percent of the rail loading capacity and anticipates it will soon finalize agreements for the remaining capacity.

Mark Maki, president of the partnership, said the project integrates high quality Bakken crude into Enbridge’s expanding portfolio of pipeline projects that access premium markets across the U.S.

“Importantly, it allows producers and shippers the ability to continue to grow their business while Enbridge develops the next phase of pipeline expansions on the Enbridge North Dakota System,” Maki said in a statement.

The project is expected to be ready by 2013.

Tags: nd business, news, oil, energy